Alabama

Preventative vs. Treatment

Sometimes the argument between the sides of medical technology and holistic or natural approaches can clash, and other times, they collide into one. Both sides have their points and respectfully so. But if you choose the natural approach, can it prevent you from needing the medicines or surgeries that so many around us are using?

Before I start, I already know that proper medical treatment is important and for some, the only option they have left. I admire doctors and all they go through to help others (most of them) and I would never tell someone with a terminal or recurrent illness, that they should just pop a multi-vitamin, and it will go away. I understand that there are different circumstances for all.

Ok...with that said, I am a true believer in preventative treatment. To "prevent" illness is to take care of your body, and it means much more than a daily vitamin. It means proper sleep, fluid intake, stress relievers, exercise and a healthy, balanced diet. For some of us, that is a lot of work, on top of full time careers or self-owned businesses, children, church, PTA and any social or "me" time that might be squeezed in, and...of course, sex. Ok, I said it...for most of us women sex can be another "job" that we have to put on our list, even though we love our husbands dearly and want to...it's still a time consumer in a 24 hour day, when we need a 32 hour day. I ashamedly have learned a tough lesson from this over the last couple of weeks.

My body has been pushed to its limits from launching a new business to supplementing income to caring for 3 children to keeping the house cleaned to teaching Wee Worship at our church to volunteering for great non-profits to writing (my passion) to being a wife. Whew...exhausting!!! Unfortunately, there was no "me" time and I let myself go, as far as taking the proper care of myself that I needed, and the result of that has been recurrent strep that has turned into Scarlet Fever. As if it wasn't enough to just be sick, I now look like a polka-dotted mess on top of it.

Before all this craziness took place in my life, my husband and I were adamant vitamin takers (liquid) and very careful about our eating and exercise routines. I admittedly let all that go with quick run ins through the fast food giants, letting my gym membership lapse and sleep...what is sleep??? My body was telling me, but I ignored it. I thought if I didn't do everything, life would pass before me and I would miss out on all the things I love. I didn't want to be perceived as "lazy" or not a "team player". I wanted to do it all and thought I could; after all, I am only 34 and have a lot of youth still in me. WRONG!!!

The point to all this is that you have to put you first. You have to take care of yourself with all the proper preventative treatments I mentioned above, because no natural method was helping me get rid of the strep and for someone who hates medicines, I am on my 4th antibiotic...ugh. If you take care of yourself the natural way that God intended before you start to get sick, you won't need the man-made medical way that most of us have to turn to, after we are sick. Be good to yourself, don't overbook, and by all means, find a good absorbing liquid vitamin to take daily and it will pay off!